People across the district have been encouraged by Bath & North East Somerset Council and NHS B&NES to think about what they drink as part of last week’s Alcohol Awareness Week.
Working with pubs and clubs, as well as the University of Bath and Bath Spa University, drinkers were offered soft drinks promotions to help them avoid getting dehydrated on a night out, as well as messages on sensible drinking and personal safety.
An advertising trike promoting sensible drinking messages toured locations across the area – with a Council street team, including volunteers from Bath Spa University, giving out alcohol unit information cards in Bath and Midsomer Norton and providing hints and tips on how to drink responsibly.
Jodie Smith, Project Officer for Alcohol Harm Reduction at Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “We spoke to more than 120 people in Midsomer Norton. It was encouraging to note that many people were asking us for the units cards so that they could get a better idea of the number of alcohol units there are in different drinks.”
Alcohol awareness stands were set up in supermarkets in Bath, Keynsham and Radstock throughout the week offering people advice on alcohol units and health, sensible drinking messages and tips on cutting down.
Councillor David Dixon (Lib-Dem, Oldfield), Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “Many people in the UK drink alcohol responsibly but alcohol-related harm is still a serious concern for some. Bath & North East Somerset Council wants everyone to fulfil their potential and be able to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Therefore we are pleased to be working with NHS B&NES and other partners to give out information and advice and raise awareness of some of the issues surrounding alcohol use.
“Alcohol Awareness Week recognises that drinking alcohol may be a pleasurable and social part of many people’s lives, and aims to promote responsible drinking by encouraging people to make sensible, positive choices about their alcohol consumption. This is just one of many worthwhile initiatives linked to Alcohol Concern’s national campaign throughout the year.”
Alcohol harm in Bath and North East Somerset has profoundly damaging social and economic consequences. The estimated costs of alcohol-abuse locally are:
- NHS: £5 million – the amount spent annually on health care for alcohol-use disorders.
- Police: £21.3 million – the cost of policing alcohol-abuse falls into three categories; a) anticipation of crime, b) consequence of crime and, c) in response to crime.
- Economic productivity: £18.7 million – workforce productivity is lost through; a) Alcohol-related unemployment and early retirement, b) alcohol-related premature deaths and, c) alcohol-related absenteeism.
- Family: the breakdown of family networks, associated homelessness and child poverty.
- Self-esteem: the loss of self-worth and purpose.
Dr Pamela Akerman, Joint Director of Public Health, NHS B&NES, said: “Even though in Bath and North East Somerset we compare favourably with the national figures, meaning we have fewer people affected by alcohol harm, the statistics are alarming.
“Over the last decade health care professionals have experienced a dramatic increase in problems related to alcohol-abuse. This increase transcends social class. Education and prevention are a key driver.”
Harry Birch, Bath Spa University’s Students’ Union Vice-President for Campaigns & Communications, said: “All the efforts from the Student Community Partnership for the Alcohol Awareness Week campaign is a true sign of its dedication to improving students’ lives on campus and within the community and offering them an alternative to alcohol such as the soft drinks promotions taking place.”
For more information and advice on alcohol issues, visit http://www.alcoholconcern.org.uk/ or check out the alcohol unit calculator at http://www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/Alcohol-unit-calculator.aspx>.
